Maschil

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is a term found as a title of thirteen Psalms, and imports one that instructs or makes to understand. Some interpreters think it means an instrument of music; but it more probably signifies an instructive song.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Psalm 47:7

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Title of Psalm 32; Psalm 42; Psalm 44; Psalm 45; Psalm 52-55; Psalm 74; Psalm 78; Psalm 88; Psalm 89; Psalm 142. "Instruction" is the special design of such psalms, as the Hebrew cognate verb (Psalms 32:8) 'aschilka , "I will instruct thee" implies. All Scripture is for "instruction" (2 Timothy 3:16). This title draws attention to the instruction in psalms where this design is not at first sight apparent. Gesenius and Roediger explain "any sacred song relating to divine things, whose end it is to promote wisdom and piety." Compare the sense of maschil Psalms 47:7, "sing ye praises with understanding," i.e. edification, spiritual "wisdom" (Colossians 3:16). Also Psalms 53:2, "God looked down ... to see if there were any that did understated" (maschil ). The "instruction" aimed at is to bring reckless man to spiritual understanding, the true wisdom (Psalms 111:10; Daniel 12:10).

Holman Bible Dictionary

Psalm 32:1Psalm 42:1Psalm 44:1Psalm 45:1Psalm 52-55Psalm 74:1Psalm 78:1Psalm 88:1Psalm 89:1Psalm 142:1Psalm 47:7Psalm 32:8-9Psalm 78:1Psalm 78:1Psalm 42:1Psalm 44:1Psalm 52:1Psalm 54:1Psalm 55:1Psalm 74:1Psalm 88:1Psalm 142:1Psalm 32:1Psalm 45:1Psalm 78:1

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

We meet with this work out the head of several of the Psalms. The meaning certainly is, to instruct. But wherefore some Psalms should be thus prefixed with a title, and others not, is not so very plain, since the whole book may be justly said to be Psalms of instruction. Some have thought, therefore, that it hath reference to instruct in the music of the Psalm.

See Musician.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MASCHIL. See Psalms, p. 772 a .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A Hebrew word occurring in the headings of several of the Psalms, Psalm 32 , Psalm 42 , Psalm 44 , Psalm 45 , Psalm 52 — Psalm 55 , Psalm 74 , Psalm 78 , Psalm 88 , Psalm 89 and Psalm 142 . The word signifies 'instruction,' and these Psalms convey instruction to the remnant, which they will understand. The same word in the plural (maschilim) signifies 'the wise, or the instructed ones.' See Daniel 11:33,35; Daniel 12:3,10 . In the N.T. Christians are exhorted to be " teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Mas'chil. (song of wisdom). The title of thirteen Psalms, Psalms 32:1; Psalms 42:1; Psalms 44:1; Psalms 45:1; Psalms 52:1; Psalms 53:1; Psalms 54:1; Psalms 55:1; Psalms 74:1; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 88:1; Psalms 89:1; Psalms 142:1. Ewald regards Psalms 47:7, (Authorized Version, "sing ye praises with understanding"; Hebrew, maschil), as the key to the meaning of maschil, which, in his opinion, is a musical term denoting a melody requiring great skill in its execution.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a title, or inscription, at the head of several psalms of David and others, in the book of Psalms. Thus Psalms 32 is inscribed, "A Psalm of David, Maschil;" and Psalms 42, "To the chief musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah." The word Maschil, in the Hebrew, signifies, "he that instructs;" though some interpreters take it for the name of a musical instrument. Some of the rabbins believe that, in repeating the psalms which have this inscription, it was usual to add an interpretation or explication to them. Others, on the contrary, think it shows the clearness and perspicuity of such psalms, and that they needed no particular explication. The most probable opinion is, that Maschil means an instructive song.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mas´kil . See Psalms .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Mas´chil, a title of some of the Psalms [PSALMS, BOOK OF].

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. maskil', מִשְׂכַיל , instrlucting, Hiph. part. of שָׂכִל, to be wise; used as a noun in Psalms 47:7, זִמְּווּ מִשְׂכַיל, sing ye a poem, Peshito, sing praise, but the Sept.,Vulg., and Auth.Vers. "sing ye with understanding") occurs in the titles or inscriptions of Psalms 32, 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142. The origin of the use of this word is uncertain, and it has been variously interpreted. The most probable meaning of maschil is a poem, song, which enforces intelligence, wisdom, piety, q. d. didactic; which is true of every sacred song, not excepting Psalms 45, where everything is referred to the goodness of God. It occurs elsewhere as an adjective, and is accordingly rendered "wise," or some other term equivalent to instruction (1 Samuel 18:14-15; 2 Chronicles 30:22; Job 22:2; Psalms 14:2; Psalms 41:1; Psalms 53:2; Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 15:24; Proverbs 16:20; Proverbs 17:2; Proverbs 19:14; Proverbs 21:12; Jeremiah 1:9; Daniel 1:4; Daniel 11:33; Daniel 11:35; Daniel 12:3; Daniel 12:10; Amos 5:13). For other derivations from the Arabic, see Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. 1331. (See Book Of Psalms).